There is nothing I like better in this world than serendipity, except, perhaps, a great smoked meat sandwich.
So there we were at U of T, hungry and cold, and Husband suggested eating at Subway to which I replied with a choice expletive or two. We’re in Toronto, for God’s sake, surely we can do better than banal blandness, yes?
So I grabbed the wheel and drove, one eye on the road, one eye scanning (always scanning) for the perfect eatery. I want what I want and I knew I’d found it when I spotted Caplansky’s sky-blue sign and a line streaming out the door. If I’d any lingering doubt, it was crushed when I spied a jar filled with hundreds of these:
How positively sassy.
We opted for take-out which (conveniently) left us enough time to slip to the back and have a drink at the bar (okay, me at least). I happily passed the keys off to Husband.
The bar is by far the best spot to absorb the energy of the place, to take in the whole show. It was noon on a Sunday and wall-to-wall with brunch-eaters, crowded in a familiar, homey kind of way. I didn’t help matters any by creeping around shooting everything I could get my eyes on. There’s no shortage of things to gawk at here.
The deli is like a movie set, designed as a venerable, old-school hangout. Caplansky is also a master marketer. He is his alter ego in a paper hat and horned-rim glasses, his face plastered on product labels, posters and other ephemera. No detail is lost on him. He has created a business that is clever, engaging and fun and staff as well as patrons look as though they are thoroughly enjoying themselves.
As I would find out later, he has appeared not once, but twice on Dragon’s Den and has been featured in a wide variety of media including The New York Times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePtsT28mpdA
With a four-hour drive ahead of us we hit the road for Ottawa with our lunch to go. I had to make one final stop. Returning from my 15-minute Jane Jacobs pilgrimage on Bloor and Albany Avenue, I found that my son, confused, had eaten the wrong order. Gone was my Reubenesque, my pickle and side of slaw. In its place was The Honest Lawyer, delicious, drippy and filling. Clearly, the boy requires an education in the finer points of deli.
Caplansky’s Delicatessen Details:
356 College St
Toronto, ON. M5T 1S6
Phone: 416.500.3852
2 responses to “Caplansky’s Delicatessen Toronto”
You were in my ‘hood, Andrea! And Caplanksky’s is our favourite place to eat. My kids love it and so do their parents. Glad you got to go.
Hey Kerry –
I figured I was close by you but also knew you’d just arrived home from your travels so I didn’t get in touch. I’ll be back your way before long and I’d love to get together with you. I have a new idea for the blog and you can be my lovely guinea pig 🙂 ! Talk soon, xo